Sixpoint Brewery – Resin IPA

I’m going to start this review with a short story that actually happened a couple months back. As I sat down on an empty bar stool at the newest bar in Oxford, OH, O’Pub, the bartender asked me what I wanted to drink. “Well, what’s your best beer?” I asked. Read More

Hoppin’ Frog Brewery: Hoppin’ to Heaven IPA

Once upon a time the city of Akron, Oh was a flourishing place full of promises and opportunities.  Yes, looking at the grey, desolate, nearly abandoned ghost town that remains today, it is quite hard to believe.  However, not so many years ago, Akron was crowned the “Rubber Capitol” of the world.  Companies like Good Year and Firestone called this place their home and exported more tires than any other place in the universe, and in turn, provided the city with plentiful employment.  But, unfortunately those years have passed, and it seems Akron is more famous for what has left it behind than for what is still there (yeah, that’s a Lebron reference and yeah, I’m still bitter). Read More

River Horse Belgian Freeze

River Horse Belgian Freeze

ABV: 8%

Adult kickball leagues are great. The nostalgic feel of playing kickball in my backyard with my cousins is nice, but when you add beer to that, it’s fantastic. Last Thursday, I had the privilege of substituting in a kickball league in Cincinnati and was pleasantly surprised when I was offered some unique beers by a fellow teammate. One beer I particularly enjoyed was called River Horse Belgian Freeze, brewed and sold only in New Jersey. Therefore, if you ever find yourself visiting Jersey, I highly recommend you buy some of these beers to ease yourself into the experience of some Jersey Shore-esque behavior that seemed to have taken over the state.  Read More

Unity Vibrations Ginger Kombucha Beer

As an Ohioan, this first week of warm weather makes me want to pop a bottle of champagne and celebrate the end of a long and cold winter (despite what the groundhog said otherwise a couple months ago). However, thanks to my brother who just came back from Grand Rapids Michigan, the brewery capital of the country, I think he may of found something even better… drum-roll please…Unity Vibrations Ginger Kombucha Beer!!!  Read More

Spring Ultimate 6er

Grab a beer, spring is near! Finally, after a long and dreary winter, spring is just weeks away. This means, a bitter-sweet goodbye to my beloved heavy dark ales and a warm-welcoming hello to sweet and hoppy spring ales. Although these recently cold and snowy days in the Midwest region doesn’t feel like spring weather, I have high hopes that sunny days are soon to come!

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Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

After attempting to pronounce the name of this beer, you’re definitely going to need a drink. Advertised as one of the oldest breweries in the world, this Bavarian beer is a a delicious and traditional German wheat beer. The Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan in Bavaria, Germany has literally been around for over a thousand years.  It first started out as a monastery brewery of the Benedictine Monks and then later turned into the Royal State Brewery.  Today, it is property of the Free State of Bavaria and is considered the oldest brewery in the world. Read More

Bad Luck Brian: Over Night Internet Celebrity

The world that we live in today is often referred to as “The Information Era.”  Just 50 years ago the first computers were the size of a house, phones were attached by cords, and mail was written by hand. With technology advancing so rapidly, it’s crazy to think about all the technological breakthroughs I have experienced. I remember being introduced to dial-up internet, to my dad’s sweet car phone that was the size of a brick, and to Gameboy’s that allowed me to take my video games everywhere. Now we have laptops, iPads, iPods, smart phones, and thank god, the internet.  It’s amazing how far technology has come. According to inventor and author, Ray Kurzweil, “A kid in Africa with a smart phone has more access to information than the U.S. president had 15 years ago.” To save you a Google search, that president was Bill Clinton. And if smart phones were around back then, we probably would of found out about Monica Lewinsky a lot sooner.  Read More

3Beans Sixpoint Brewery

Remember Four Loko? Well, while I definitely don’t remember the nights I drank this fruity poison, I definitely remember the hullabaloo it caused in the news, for parents, and for the general public. And after only a few years of availability, it was no surprise when this drink was permanently banned from store shelves. Although the taste wasn’t all that great (kinda a mix of gasoline and Capri Sun) it was indeed a great concept. After all, it was a drink that got you drunk after one can (probably a little too drunk) and it gave you enough energy to stay up the entire night. However, I think we can all agree that Four Loko needed to be taken down at least one notch. Well, prayers have been answered, and whether one of my new favorite breweries, Sixpoint in Brooklyn, NY, meant to or not, I believe they created a more natural (and less terrifying) version of a Four Loko beverage. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, 3Beans. And don’t worry, it taste NOTHING like Four Loko.

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Amarcord – La Putena

Rating

It’s February and that means, it’s the beginning of award-season. Since the 2013 Grammys have come to a close, we can all start getting over Taylor Swift’s uncomfortable attempt at a fake British accent, JLo’s risque mid-life crisis dress, and the return of LL Cool J. Ok, I was a little excited about the return of LL Cool J. Anyway, it’s time to move on and get ready for the Oscars. In honor of award season, I am introducing an interesting, yet delicious, foreign brew from Italy: Amarcord’s La Putena. This beer is named after the Oscar Award-winning film “Amarcord,” which was directed by the late Italian film director Federico Fellini, who won four Oscars during his lifetime. Read More

Cincinnati Beer Week 2013: Embree’s Northern Dark Baltic Porter

Before I begin this review, I would like to give a heads up that this particular beer will most likely only be available to Ohioans, specifically Southwestern Ohioans. However, I am hopeful that this review will spark the interest of our national audience and perhaps even inspire them to take a little (or long) trip to the Midwest. I will promise you that it will be an awesome time! Maybe even a little too awesome seeing as The Business Insider just released its 2013 must hungover cities in the US and I am proud/embarrassed to say that five cities in Ohio made the top 25, making Ohio the most hungover state in the country! Shout outs: Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati.  Read More

Kiuchi Brewery – Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brew

Who said being a ginger was a bad thing? Well, it wasn’t me. Especially after experiencing the unique flavors of Hitachino Nest Real Ginger Brew from Kiuchi Brewery. A virgin to ginger beer, this brew definitely holds up to its name with strong notes of ginger roots in both the taste and the smell. It also has a great hoppy flavor for those who like IPA’s and light refreshing beer.

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Southern Tier Brewing Company- Old Man Winter Ale

It’s my brother-in-law’s 30th birthday and I need to get him a gift. First, I need to decide what to get him. Beer. OK, that didn’t take long. But now that hard part, which one?

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Ultimate 6er | Breakfast Edition

If you’re drinking during breakfast, it’s probably either because you had a bad night or a great morning. Or maybe you just ran out of OJ. But whatever the reason may be, here are the six beers you need to start off your day.
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Thirsty Dog Brewing Company- 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale

Being a native of North-Eastern Ohio, the Christmas season is an exciting time for me. Possibly one of the only things Cleveland is recognized positively for nation-wide is our Great Lakes Christmas Ale. While this is one of my favorite beers, I would like to take some time to appreciate a delicious ale brought to us by our neighbors in Akron, Ohio.

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Three Floyds Brewing Company: Broo Doo Hop Harvest Ale

“Hey will you grab me that beer with the little troll wearing a sailor’s outfit in front of the unicorn attacking what it looks to be Princess Peach on it?” said no one ever until after I wrote this post. Three Floyds Broo Doo hop harvest ale lures it’s prospective drinkers in with its trippy bottle and captures them with it’s just as unique flavor.

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Mock Election Face-Off: Jon Stewart vs. Stephen Colbert

When a video clip of a toddler bawling her eyes out because she is tired of “Bronco Bama and Mitt Romney” becomes viral, it’s clear the rest of the country must be getting pretty tired of all the election hullabaloo as well. So let’s take a break from the two most talked about men for a second and focus on the two most watched; Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

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The Hipster Trend

It’s Wednesday. 9am. I’m walking to class hungover (Tuesday is 90s night!!) when something catches my eye. It is a pair of neon shorts worn by the ultimate f*cking hipster (hipsters don’t be offended I didn’t come up with the phrase, the Look at this F*cking Hipster tumblr did). I know, I know, I’m in no position to judge. I smell like alcohol and I’m wearing the same thing to class that I wore to bed the night before. But, I’m going to judge this girl anyway. Well, more like  comment on her (9am is too early to start judging). Read More

Dogfish Head Brewing | Sah’tea

ABV: 9%

Black chai tea and beer: two of my favorite things. But beer flavored with black chai tea? I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first. I should have had more faith in Dogfish Head, one of my favorite breweries. I should have known if anyone could pull this off it would be them. I should have known that these two ingredients would never let me down, but I didn’t. And to my pleasant surprise, the mix of black chai tea and Dogfish Head ale blended together is like a match made in heaven. And again, I should have known that all dogs go to heaven, even dogfish. The subtle flavors of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and black pepper work together to turn beer into black chai tea… only better.

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